We are pleased to announce the launch of our on-line antique and collectible shop. You will find some items from our barn as well as other items from our collection. We can ship most items worldwide.

Check it out at www.treasureshop.ca.

We are adding new items on a continuing basis. Looking for something special? You can always drop by A Victorian Reflection B&B in Westport or drop us a line at antiques@treasureshop.ca.

Culture is alive and well in Westport. After a successful March kitchen party and April poetry event, we are looking forward to a season full of art, music, literature, and theatre. Here is the program for 2010. If you have any questions, click here to send an email to innkeeper@avictorianreflection.com.

May 22-24, Dandelion Gardens Studio Tour.
The annual Westport Area Dandelion Gardens Studio Tour is being held again on the May long weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Our unique fine art includes magical photographic art, elegant flowing sculptures, traditional rughooking, gorgeous comfortable clothing and throws, rustic birdhouses and mirrors, stained glass and copper and glass garden sculptures, recycled farm equipment; unique pottery and painted items, architectural sculptures, wire art, heritage paintings and much more. www.artatwork.ca/westport_studiotours/dandelions/index.htm

June 5-6, Westport Antique Show
The Westport Antique Show & Sale will be returning to the Westport Arena at the corner of Concession and Spring Streets again this year. Visit with forty of Ontario and Quebec’s premium dealers, the Rideau Vista tea room, and local museum displays. http://www.antique-shows.ca

June 5, Disco Mania
The Westport Arts Council presents it’s 2nd Annual Good Times party. If you liked the 70’s you will love Disco Mania - come to the Cove Country Inn Saturday June 5 from 5:30 - 11:30 and dance to the music of Dj Dale Vanddusen. Cost is $40. Proceeds of this event help fund the August Westport Music Festival. Call 613-273-3636 for reservations. www.westportartscouncil.ca

June 5, Rideau Lakes Artists June Show
Come to the United Church in Westport on June 5, 10 AM - 5 PM and Sunday June 6, 1 -4 PM to see a variety of original works. www.rideaulakesartists.com
for more information.

June 26, Westport Heritage Festival
Farm & Craft Market, Bedford Street, 9am - 4pm. The 4th Annual Westport Heritage Festival features a select group of quality vendors, selling arts, crafts, gifts and food. Enjoy the heritage displays & museum tours; Lots of musical entertainment and a children’s area with face painting, balloon animals and clowns.

June 27, Gospel Concert
Join us in the early afternoon for gospel music at the Lion’s Club Beach. Details to be announced.

July 1, Canada Day Celebrations in Westport
The fun starts in Westport at 1 PM with opening ceremonies at The Rideau District Museum followed by a bicycle parade for the kids. Activities then move to the Lions Club Beach where there are Air Castles, Food and entertainment. No Canada Day would be complete without fireworks and the show at the beach is nothing short of spectacular. And, the entertainment is all free!

July 3-4, Rideau Lakes Studio and Garden Tour
The 12th annual Rideau Lakes Studio and Garden tour takes place July 3 and 4. Studios are open 10 AM -5 PM. Brochures are available at many stores and The Visitors Welcome Centre in Westport. Call Sherry @ 613-928-3041 for more information.

31, July 2010 - Rideau Waterway Land Trust Summer Festival
This event will be held at the Newboro Lock Station beginning at 10 AM. There is fun for the whole family…including a full children’s program in the afternoon. For more info, contact the RWLT at sharon@rwlt.org.

August 14, Westport Music Festival
The Westport Arts Council presents it’s 4th annual FREE festival. There will be 9 bands on 3 outdoor stages - The Cove Country Inn, A Victorian Reflection and SOHO’s. Performances start at noon with a “kids show” on the Cove stage. There will be special evening performance at The Cove beginning at 8:00 PM - 5$ cover charge.
www.westportartscouncil.ca


August 27-29, Rideau Valley Art Festival
The Rideau Valley Art Festival is held annually in Westport, the heart of the historic Rideau Valley. Last year the festival was home to 63 artists. Festival organizers search out original works of art by well-known and new artists whose work is juried before acceptance, the Board of Directors ensures high-quality work and a showcase of exceptional talent. Westport Community Centre. For more information visit www.rideauvalleyartfestival.com.

September 19, Writer’ Reading Sunday
The Westport Arts Council presents it’s 3rd annual “Writers Reading” where authors read from their published works. Come to the United Church (corner of Church and Spring) from 1:00 -4:00PM. Tickets cost $20 and are available at Stillwater Books and Treasures, 31D Main Street and Murphy’s Barber Shop, 5 Church Street. Proceeds of this event help fund the August Westport Music Festival. www.westportartscouncil.ca

October 2, Theatrical Concert - Grievous Angel: The Legend of Gram Parsons
This play stars Anders Drerup and Kelly Prescott as Gram and Emmylou Harris. The show was inspired by Michael Bate’s March 1973 interview with the doomed singer in Boston. It was Parsons’ last recorded conversation. The theatrical concert is produced and directed by Michael Bate, written by Michael Bate with David McDonald. http://www.legendofgramparsons.com
. Proceeds of this event help fund the August Westport Music Festival. www.westportartscouncil.ca

October 9-11, Fall Colours Studio Tour
The annual Fall Colours Studio Tour takes place October 9,10,11. This year we have added many new artists and 3 new studios to our tour. Visit our 15 picturesque studios in and around the village of Westport. Join us as we open our doors to the public for this free, self-guided tour, now in it’s 21st year. Many of the artists will be demonstrating while working on new pieces at their studios. This is a wonderful opportunity to add to your own collection or to get a jump on your Christmas shopping with exquisite one of a kind works of art. Tour maps are available at a variety of area businesses and tourist information centers. http://artatwork.ca/westport_studiotours/index.html.

Well, it is officially autumn – it almost seemed like summer wasn’t going to happen, but August was splendid in Westport. The 3rd Annual MUSICwestport went off like clockwork under glorious sunshine. We had the acoustic stage on our front lawn once again and enjoyed the down home sounds of StringTease, Oliver Killiam’s song stylings, and the sweet harps of Acacia Lyra. The two other stages were abuzz with activity as well; we all owe a big thanks to the business folks of Westport who paid to make this free event happen. We are looking forward to next year’s event – it just keeps getting bigger.

Fall brings new excitement as we shift gears into yet another series of events. Our local artists’ studios will open their doors once again for the ever popular Fall Colours Studio Tour on the October long weekend. (October 10-12). Check their web site for more information at www.artatwork.ca/westport_studiotours.

Later in October the Westport Arts Council will be hosting another Writer’s Reading featuring renowned mystery writer Giles Blunt and three other Ontario authors for a Sunday afternoon event. It is on October 25, and will be held in the centre of the village this year, at the United Church. Check out the line-up at the Arts Council’s web site www.westportartscouncil.ca. And if you book a room at our B&B for the event, we will be pleased to offer you complementary wine and cheese in the evening. Writers Reading is an Arts Council fundraising event for next year’s MUSICwestport.

To complete the weekend, the Cove Inn will be featuring a new jazz quintet out of New York City on the Saturday night, October 24. They are called The Story, and you can read about them at www.thestorymusic.com. The music is from 8-11PM and there is a $5 cover charge.

Finally, it wouldn’t be autumn without the Blues fundraiser series featuring some of Canada’s best blues artists. Shows are held on the 3rd Friday of each month from October through June at the Cove Inn, starting with the Mike Goudreau Band on October 16. Some groups perform the Saturday as well. You can see the full lineup and details at at
www.choosetheblues.ca.

Next up, little goblins, Santa, ice fishing, stay tuned …

Summer is here, and if the weather seems to be the topic of preference, our Westport season is off to a fine start. Rain or shine, there is fishing, hiking, boating (you can even rent a houseboat and cruise the Rideau Canal) and fly-in events at the Westport Airstrip. Summer fairs are underway in the surrounding towns and Westport now boasts a new Saturday morning farmer’s market.

The Dandelion Studio Tour in May, the Antique Show in June, and the Westport Heritage Festival in July were all fun-filled and well-attended events. Our Bed and Breakfast was selected to be part of the Heritage House Tour benefiting the Rideau Museum last week, and we were please to see hundreds of visitors pass through our home in support of this Westport institution.

The next big event is the August 15 music festival, and everyone has been chipping in to make this the biggest and best yet. (Visit www.westportartscouncil.ca for the festival lineup and schedule.) This free event is made possible by generous donations of the Westport business community and through fund-raising events such as last March’s Kitchen Party (Ceilidh) which drew musicians and dancers from many corners of the region for a celebration of traditional music and Irish stew. We have other exciting events coming up – music, writers reading – as we gear up for next year’s program. It is never too early to start. Announcements will be made on the B&B blog and on the Westport Arts Council web site as details become available.

Also this month is the Rideau Valley Art Show & Sale (August 21, 22, and 23) at the Westport Community Centre. Over 60 of the countries finest artists and artisans attend this prestigious festival. Funds raised from this event go to support other community associations.

Stay tuned for information of upcoming events –Writers Reading (September), Fall Colours Studio Tour (October 10-12) .